The Save R-12 Schools Committee today opposed Springfield Public Schools’ $189 million bond proposal slated for the April ballot.
Virgil Hill, chairman and spokesman of the committee, said the expansion of facilities in the proposal does not necessarily correlate to greater education for students.
“We are not in denial that some building conditions are unacceptable and need remediation,” Hill said during a news conference at DoubleTree Hotel. “We believe that the wise and sustainable course of action is to repair, rehab and renovate, where necessary, but don’t generally replace.
“No rational homeowner confronted with a clogged toilet or a leaky roof would conclude that only replacing the whole house would suffice as a remedy.”
The Save R-12 Schools Committee is calling on voters to reject the bond proposal on April 4 that seeks a 24-cent increase to the debt-service levy to be phased in over two years to fund several new elementary and middle schools. SPS sent the proposal to the polls after its hired consultant, Tallahassee, Florida-based MGT of America Inc., recommended a 12-year, $367.6 million facility master plan to be conducted in two phases.
Hill couched the MGT report as being “carefully calculated to satisfy the client.”
During the news conference, Hill referenced building condition scores MGT assigned to certain schools. The Save R-12 Schools Committee’s review of SPS and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education data found schools with higher building condition scores — such as Hickory Hills with its 94 score — do not perform more proficiently than schools with lower scores, such as 68 at Pleasant View. Construction of new schools, Hill said, is a solution that looks good on the surface but does not address key issues affecting students.
“Constructing new buildings is easy. Holding a shovel to break ground in a photo-op is easy. Those things give the impression of activity and improvement,” he said. “Adopting and implementing a rigorous, high-expectations curriculum is hard.
“Recruiting, developing and retaining a corps of superb principals and teachers is hard.”
Made up of former SPS teachers and board members, leaders of the Save R-12 Schools Committee were involved in bringing about a
2012 state audit that was highly critical of the district. Virgil said the other core committee members are Steve Hoots, Carl Herd, Fred Ellison, Ralph Plank and David Awbrey.
Moving forward, the group plans to send out mailers and participate in public forums to get the word out about its opposition to the district’s bond proposal.
